Sunday, September 24, 2006

End of the English cricket season

Daily Result: £191.33

So today's Pro40 playoff between Hampshire and Glamorgan bought the curtain down on the 2006 domestic season. Would be nice to say the first ever playoff in domestic cricket was a thrilling climax to what's been a great season but given the damp squib of a game it was it would be more than a bit of a fib. So I'll satisfy myself with collecting the £190 green - which is ultimately what it's all about anyway - and admitting that I spent more time watching the golf than the cricket!

Glamorgan won the toss. But despite their successes at chasing this year I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought the decision to field first was, well, odd. As well as just plain wrong as it turned out. Hampshire got off to a flyer making 105 from the first 15 overs. And despite having Brown given out stumped when he clearly wasn't they cruised to 265. A brilliant 158 from Benham (from 130 balls) was the backbone of the innings and it was a shame he was yorked in the penultimate over. Still, 158 is now the highest score in Pro40. Mascarenhas' 30 off 20 was also a bit special.

In reply Glamorgan never really got going and in the end were 114 all out. A wicket on the second ball of the innings didn't help. Harrison was sent in to pinch hit and did a good job until out. But when your opening bowler comes in at 3 and highest scores you're not going to win. In fact, you're going to get hammered. As Glamorgan were.

So anyway, Hampshire are promoted to the first division for next year's Pro40 and Glamorgan will be in the second. But while next season may seem a long way off yet there's plenty of cricket to be traded between now and then. Not least the small matters of the Ashes and the World Cup. The next stop for me cricket wise will be the ICC Champions Trophy in early October. Before that there's a bit of tennis to have a look at - and I've been working on some snooker and NFL in-running strategies so may have some small stake trial runs at those.

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